Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in North Korea
North Korea: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in North Korea, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.5% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in North Korea peaked at 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2022.
North Korea ranks 75th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 73 South Korea 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 74 North Macedonia 21.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 76 Jamaica 21.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 77 Indonesia 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 78 Nicaragua 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for North Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 91.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.44 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.43 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.16 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 10.95 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0937 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 20.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.003 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.014 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 4.46 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in North Korea?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in North Korea was 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- North Korea ranks 75th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average level of exposure of the population to suspended particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and damaging health. This is measured in micrograms per cubic meter.